1
as in strangles
to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air
the law requires the owner of a discarded refrigerator to remove its door so that a child won't get trapped inside and suffocate
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Recent Examples of suffocates
Both novel and opera include a scene in which Salvador Dalí almost suffocates after getting his head stuck in a scuba helmet at an art opening.
—
Emma Allen, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026
Aristidou utilizes Danae, whose controlling dad suffocates her with his seemingly overbearing rigidness, as a counterpoint to the other extreme of fatherhood.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
Overwatering is the most common cause of yellow ficus leaves, as soggy soil suffocates roots.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
When the truth is crushed in one place, freedom suffocates everywhere.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 18 Jan. 2026
When the truth is crushed in one place, freedom suffocates everywhere.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Jan. 2026
But for this to work, these supercities must have freedom from the bureaucratic maze that suffocates current development.
—Zoltan Istvan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Just like particles behave differently when observed, your business suffocates under micromanagement.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Emma Allen, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The piercing doesn't necessarily damage the trees, but their excrement, which is high in sugar, stains the trees and blocks photosynthesis, which eventually suffocates the trees, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026
Aristidou utilizes Danae, whose controlling dad suffocates her with his seemingly overbearing rigidness, as a counterpoint to the other extreme of fatherhood.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
Overwatering is the most common cause of yellow ficus leaves, as soggy soil suffocates roots.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
When the truth is crushed in one place, freedom suffocates everywhere.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 18 Jan. 2026
When the truth is crushed in one place, freedom suffocates everywhere.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Jan. 2026
But for this to work, these supercities must have freedom from the bureaucratic maze that suffocates current development.
—Zoltan Istvan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Just like particles behave differently when observed, your business suffocates under micromanagement.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffocates
Verb
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Mostly, though, Boland strangles batters with his suffocating and deadly-accurate line and length.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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What starts as an innocent father/daughter college visit takes a shocking turn when Tony brutally strangles a Mob turncoat.—
Dan Snierson,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Bond chokes Blofeld, who quickly dies from the virus.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
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Much of the work focused on pulling out English ivy, an invasive vine known for slowly killing trees, and clearing debris that chokes the forest floor.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There was also a moment where her character vomits all over Bradley's face while dragging him from the water.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
-
My cat vomits once every week or two.—
Jane Sykes,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
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If either smothers the grass for long periods, this can compact soil and lead to mold problems.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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First into his life comes Jessie involved in a shipwreck with her uncle, a past colleague of Mason’s, who drowns in a vicious storm and almost takes Jessie down with him before she is heroically rescued from near death by Mason, who brings her out of the drink and then back to life.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
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What should be a fast minimum viable product (MVP) becomes a bloated prototype that delays launch and drowns out real user feedback.—
Renae Gregoire,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Avoid heavy garden soil, which compacts easily and stifles bulb growth.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026
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Administrative red tape stifles growth Beyond direct financial costs, small business owners are struggling with a sudden increase in bureaucratic red tape.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suffocates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffocates. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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